Photos by Matthew PielThe Place:

The Matador, 4546 California Ave. SW, 932-9988, WEST SEATTLEThe Hours: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.The Deal: No cheap drinks to sate your thirst, but the Matador happy hour food menu boasts more than a dozen items for either $4 or $5. With the portions being equal to their size during dinner hours, you can fill your belly, fending off a tequila-induced hangover.The Digs: The Matador is pure Tex-Mex, with skulls and wrought iron decor. The early happy hour crowd is made up of West Seattle workers, making a stop after their downtown jobs for a bite. Like most of California Ave., Matador slows down following the dinner rush… until just before 10 p.m. when the bar stools start filling up again. Unlike the scene at Matador’s Ballard location–where you’re more likely to find patrons hunting for a hookup–West Seattle attracts a more diverse crowd of night owls. A couple bonds over margaritas in one booth while a guy in overalls bellies up to a long table running down the middle of the restaurant. In the neighborhood that both a recent mayor and the current King County Executive call home, it’s not uncommon to see the occasional politico walk through the doors near closing time. Good food at good prices; just be prepared to pay retail for the tequila flights.The Verdict: If you believe the words “happy hour” means you should be able to get hammered and stuff your face with food with only a $10 bill in your pocket, Matador isn’t your place. Instead, you can get entree-worthy eats for nearly half the regular price. A plate of $4 chorizo quesadillas or chicken-stuffed border-style “egg rolls” will fill you up. And while there are only 5 prawns that come smothered in a habanero-tomato sauce, the heat off the dish will guarantee clear nasal passages for the rest of the night (though the dish could use a few more fried plantains to soak up the remaining sauce.)You can’t eat better Tex-Mex for the price. But you’ll need a wallet full of cash if you want to keep the margaritas coming while you feast.